Boot or shoe, composite sole therefor, and method of manufacturing same



March 1,1927. ,619,023

8. F. HARTWELL BOOT OR SHOE, COMPOSITE SOLE THEREFOR, AND METHOD OFMANUFACTURING SAME Filed May 27, 1926 V//////////// ///////////////z 55'/III/l/II/l/l/l/l/ll/l/ll/z Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. IIARTWELL, OF WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT OR SHOE, COMPOSITE SOLE THEREFOR, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME.

Application filed May 27,

My present invention relates to a novel and improved method ofmanufacturing boots and shoes, a composite sole for use therewith, andthe boots and shoes made thereby, and is a continuation in part of myprior and copending application Ser. No. 79,992, filed January 8, 1926.

In manufacturing boots and shoes, it is desirable to have a shoestructure with great flexibility in the sole, combined with wearresisting qualities throughout, particularly at the toe. In carrying outmy invention I may utilize any of the well-known types of rubber orrubber-like compounds or compositions, including raw, crepe or latexrubber, or combinations of the same, to form a wear resisting andflexible layer of suitable thickness to constitute the outsole of theshoe. A difliculty heretofore experienced in the use of crepe or latexrubber for outsoles, however, has been the tendency of this rubber tobreak away at the toe portion, becoming ragged, exposing the otherwiseconcealed stitching, permitting the entrance of water to rot same, andthe like disadvantages. In order to overcome this difliculty, I provideone of the sole members of my novel composite sole, preferably the solemember provided for its toughness and relative rigidity, such as rubberfiber or the like composition, although I may use leather or othermaterials if desired, with a reinforcing toe piece, preferably of thesame material as the sole member of which it is a part or to which it issecured. This toe piece, being tough and relatively rigid, withstandsthe wear at the toe of the shoe much better than the crepe rubber, andresults in a longer lived, neater and more attractive shoe structure,not wearing rough at the toe edges as does crepe rubber.

' Furthermore, by utilizing my present novel details of construction, Iam enabled to satisfactorily join crepe rubber and rubber fiber or otherrubber-like compositions, to form an outsole with the advantages ofeach,

that is, with the wear resisting and tread qualities of crepe rubber,and the toughness and relative rigidity of the rubber fiber orcomposition, coupled with the indestructibility of the solid toe pieceand wear resistance of the same.

Further features of the invention, details 1926. Serial No. 112,156.

and advantages will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of myinvention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my invention applied to a welt shoe;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar cross-sectional view illgstrating application to aMcKay shoe; an

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail'of the toe.

sole member 52, and preferably formed integral therewith, is a toe piece53, beveled at 54:, as shown. Secured to the sole member 52 in anysuitable manner, and prior to attachment to the welt, is a midsole 55,preferably of crepe rubber. This midsole 55 is attachedto the solemember 52 throughout its entire length rearwardly of the toe piece 53.With the composite sole thus described attached to the shoe. preferablyby stitching 56, which extends through the toe piece 53 and through themidsole 55 and sole member 52 entirely and completely around the welt,an outsole 57, preferably of the same material as the midsole 55, isapplied, and attached to the midsole 55 in any desirable manner,preferably by coating the contacting surfaces of the two crepe rubbersole members with a suitable solvent, such as benzol, and uniting thesame under pressure, or heat and pressure, whereby a homogeneous,unified sole member is produced throughout the entire length of theshoe, and no mechanical fastenings visible excepting at the toe piece53, where the stitching is exposed. This outer sole'57 extends from thetoe piece rear- ;jwardly to the end of the shoe, and may, and preferablydoes, have a heel 58 formed in tegral therewith. One end of the outersole 57 is beveled, so that in attaching the same to the midsole, thisbeveled end of the outsole 57 under the beveled edge 54 of the toe pieceforms a tight joint therewith, and one which will not be affected by theflexing of the sole in walking, and which will be firmly secured inposition. In this present modification I have all the advantages of anentire sole and heel of crepe rubber, which are well known, togetherwith the extremely advantageous feature of a solid toe piece of wearresisting material, and one which will stand the send and wear ofwalking, without pulling apart, as is liable to happen when the creperubber sole is carried to the full front of the shoe.

Figs. 3 and at illustrate in cross-sectional detail, the methods ofattachment to welt and McKay shoes respectively. In Fig. 3 isillustrated the member 50, insole 60 and welt 51, united by inseamstitching 61, with the sole. member 52 and midsole 55 secured to thewelt by welt stitching 56, which welt stitching is carried completelyaround and through the toe piece 53. The outer or tread sole 57 is alsoshown in position to be attached to the midsole 55.

Fig. 4 illustrates the member 70 of a Mc- Kay shoe, having an insole 71,both united to the sole member 52 and midsole 55 by through and throughstitching 72, and also shows the outer or tread sole member 57 inposition for attachment as above described. Fig. 5 illustrates, infragmentary detail, the toe piece 53 as a separate unit, secured to thesole member 52 in any desired way, as by first cementing the same, andafterwards by the stitching 56 uniting the composite sole to the welt51.

The importance and advantages of the shoe construction, and novelcomposite sole as above described, will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, as will the advantageous features of compositesoles, with the strength and relative rigidity of a rubber fiber,vulcanized rubber, or composition sole, and the resiliency andflexibility of the crepe rubber on the tread surface, coupled with theindestructibility of the toe piece and wear resistance of the same.

lviy invention is further described and defined in the form of claims asfollows:

1. A composite sole, comprising a layer of rubber or rubber compositionhaving a beveled reinforcing toe piece, a relatively thin midsole ofcrepe rubber adhered to said layer, and a crepe rubber outsole unifiedwith said crepe rubber midsole, one end of the outsole being beveled tocooperate with the beveled end of the toe piece.

2. A composite sole, comprising a layer of rubber or rubber composition,a beveled toe piece attached thereto, a relatively thin midsole of creperubber adhered to said layer, and a crepe rubber outsole unified withsaid crepe rubber midsole, one end of the outsole being beveled tocooperate with the beveled end of the toe piece.

3. The improved process of making boots and shoes which consists infirst assembling an insole and upper materials on a last, lasting theshoe, then applying a midsole of crepe rubber to a layer of rubber orrubber composition having a reinforcing toe piece, which is bevelledinwardly at its rearmost edge, attaching this composite sole to the shoeby mechanical fastening means entirely around the periphery of thecomposite sole, then beveling an outsole of crepe rubber with a unitaryheel thereon, and adhering the cutsole to the midsole, with the beveledfaces of the toe piece and crepe rubber outsole cooperating to form astrong even joint, said outsole concealing and protecting the mechanicalfastenings in the midsole, removing the last and completing the shoe.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

BENJAMIN F. HARTWELL.

